A defense attorney for the plaintiffs of the Yasukuni-visit damage suit holds up a sign after their suit was rejected by the Tokyo District Court.

"Even if the plaintiffs had what they call the rights based on freedom of religion, the concept is too vague and subjective to warrant legal protection," presiding Judge Hiroyuki Shibata said in handing down the ruling.

A South Korean plaintiff protests against the court's rejection of their suit.

The court did not rule on whether visits to the shrine violated the constitutional separation of religion and state. It also did not make any judgment on whether the visits were made in a private or official capacity.

The plaintiffs had demanded Koizumi, Ishihara and the national and Tokyo metropolitan governments pay ¥30,000 to each claimant for damages caused by the visits. They also asked the court to prevent the two from visiting the shrine again.

Commenting on the ruling, Koizumi said, "I don't understand why the matter was put on trial. I don't think this is an issue for the courts."

The Japan Times Weekly: April 30, 2005
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